Jeff Francis is ready to come back from his latest bout with left shoulder issues, tossing a rehab outing with Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday, going three innings and giving up just one hit and one walk. He whiffed three batters and will return to the big-league club no earlier than Wednesday -- which means he'll have spent just under a month on the DL as manager Jim Tracy tells MLB.com .

Francis opened the year on the DL due to a left-shoulder strain, joining the team in mid-May and made 16 starts, posting a 4.56 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a career-best 1.9 BB/9, although his 5.7 K/9 ratio is his second-worst. He then hit the disabled list August 10 with soreness in his left shoulder, seeing Jhoulys Chacin jump over him for a spot in the rotation.

It's not known whether Francis will pitch out of the rotation or bullpen as Chacin is staying in the rotation for good. Aaron Cook has recently returned to his spot in the rotation after a bout of ineffectiveness, hurling 6 1/3 innings against the Padres, allowing just two runs on Friday. The remainder of the Rockies rotation includes Ubaldo Jimenez, Jorge De La Rosa and Jason Hammel.

The Rox have three lefties in the bullpen, but only one (Joe Beimel) has spent the entire season with the team, so it's likely Francis heads to the 'pen to give the team a lift as they chase what was a seemingly improbable postseason spot mere days ago that is now a possibility.

-- Evan Brunell

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Colorado's starters can't catch a break. Or rather, they can't stop being broken.

Every Rockies starter except Ubaldo Jimenez has been on the disabled list this season, and now left-hander Jeff Francis is going for the double dip. Francis, who had shoulder surgery last year and opened this season on the disabled list, will be placed on the DL again with tendinitis in the shoulder, according to insidetherockies.com.

Francis, a 17-game winner in his last full season in 2008, was 4-4 with a 4.56 ERA this season in 16 starts. The Rockies have a club option on Francis for 2011 at $7 million, and it's unlikely they'll keep him at that price.

This likely means Esmil Rogers dodges a bullet and will get to stay in the rotation when Jhoulys Chacin returns. Chacin now seems likely to step into Francis' spot and start Tuesday.

-- David Andriesen

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Rockies starter Jeff Francis won his first game at Coors Field in nearly two years on Sunday, picking up the win in Colorado's 10-3 victory over Toronto.

Francis went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Francis hadn't won in Denver since June 18, 2008. Francis missed all of 2009 after undergoing shoulder surgery and didn't make his 2010 debut until May 6.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

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